The Good Friday afternoon service at the Methodist Church was led by the Rev Laura Hardy. Mr Robert Booth was the organist.

An Easter breakfast was served in the chapel parlour before the church service on Easter Sunday morning. The Rev Laura Hardy led the worship and administered the sacrament. The Cross was decorated with spring flowers. the readers were Mr Granville Dews and Mr John Gaukroger. The organist was Mr John Oldfield.

The Good Friday service at St George's Church was led by the Rev David Barnes, who reflected on the seven last words of Christ. The readers were Margaret and Roger Kenworthy, Rosalind Watt, Verena Wood, Beth Dove, Kate Drake and Elizabeth Mosley. Verena Wood was the organist.

St George's choir joined with that of St Mary's Church to lead worship at Honley on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The service on Good Friday took the form of a drama entitled The Hopeful Grave.

Easter Day parish communion at St George's Church was celebrated by the Rev David Barnes. Elizabeth Mosley read the lessons and was the server. The guest organist was Maxwell Kenworthy. Coffee and hot cross buns were served afterwards.

Brockholes Women's Institute meeting was held last Thursday in the Methodist Church Parlour at 7.30p.m. Speaker for April was Sheila Armitage of the British Sugar Craft Guild, Sheila demonstrated the decorating of small chocolate eggs and turning them into Easter novelties. It was fascinating to see them finished as an Easter bunny, duck, elephant and an octopus decorating a cake. Enid Smith thanked the speaker and Dorothy Jones won the competition for an egg-cup.

HEPWORTH

Parish eucharist for Easter Day was celebrated by the Rev Keith Griffin. The reader was Jane Selkirk, and prayers were led by Cheryl Roberts. In his opening remarks, the vicar paid tribute to Christine Kelsey who had died suddenly the previous day and said the floral decorations for Easter, which Christine had created, were a reminder of her talent. The children enjoyed an Easter egg hunt in the churchyard, supervised by Chris Fletcher. The guest organist was Noel Clark.

HOLMBRIDGE

The Camera Club held a one print image competition, which was won by Victor Harris. Ray Austwick was second and Phil Hack third.

Midweek holy communion at St David's Church was conducted by the Rev Geoff Banks. Ian Gold read the lesson. The Over 60s group met in the afternoon. Ian Gold led Friday prayers.

Sunday parish eucharist for Easter at St David's was led by the Rev Geoff Bamford. The preacher was the Rev Geoff Banks, who also administered the chalice. Lessons were read by John Parker and Helen Woods. Intercessions were led by Carolyn Burley and the creche and junior church were led by Kathryn Kingdom and Jon Burdon. The organist was Jean Chadwick.

HOLMFIRTH

Easter Day was celebrated at Holy Trinity with 8am Holy Communion and 10.30 Easter Eucharist, with the Rev Keith Griffin presiding. He was assisted with the chalice by Brian Shaw. Audrey Dalton led the Intercessions and Carlton Tinsdeall read from Acts. Keith spoke about the Easter story as told in Mark – there was no joy on Easter morning,only fear and terror when Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James went to the tomb. What does Easter mean to us? For Christians Easter is a new beginning. Coffee was served after the service by Ann Holmes and Kay Booth.

Maundy Thursday service at the Methodist Church, led by the Rev Charlotte Lorimer, focused on the Last Supper. Everyone was invited to share the bread and wine and receive the sign of the cross in oil from Rev Charlotte.

Good Friday morning’s service of reflection took place at the foot of the cross from where Bible passages and meditations were read before nails were hammered into the cross. In the afternoon, members of Methodist and parish churches held a walk of witness around Holmfirth, stopping at various places for meditations, prayers and singing before holding a joint act of worship in the Methodist Church, led by the Rev Charlotte.

Rev Charlotte took the early communion service on Easter Sunday before morning worship was led by Michael Tolson. His talk to the children before they left to make an Easter garden and cards was about new life and was illustrated by bulbs, flowers, leaves, tadpoles and birdsong. In his sermon, Michael spoke of how Mary Magdalene’s life was changed by Jesus and how she was foremost among those standing at the foot of the cross and the first person to spread news of Christ’s resurrection. Michael’s theme was that Easter was a new beginning with light coming from darkness, hope from despair and good triumphing over evil.

Nick Martin and Margaret Hinchliffe took part in a drama about the first Easter Sunday. Betty Eagles gave the New Testament lesson from John’s gospel and a meditation – Do Not Cling To Me – was read by Sheila Talbot. The service ended with extended communion before the huge cross, stripped of the symbols of Lent and then decorated with spring flowers, was carried to the church garden to the singing of Crown Him With Many Crowns. From Good Friday to Easter Monday, there was an Easter labyrinth in a marquee on the Methodist church lawn, giving everyone the chance to experience an Easter journey.

HONLEY

A meeting of the Probus Club at the community centre welcomed new member Christopher Dale and congratulated John Black, who was providing coffee in celebration of his 80th birthday. The speaker was Robert Johnstone, who have a talk on the history of Scotland, including events such as the Great Cursing of 1525, the pacification of the border areas, when many families were relocated to Ireland, and the exploits of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Peter Marshall proposed a well-supported vote of thanks.

Maundy Thursday at St Mary's Church was marked by a Passover meal followed by a communion service and vigil. On Good Friday, members of the congregation joined members of Trinity and Elim churches for an open air service in the village centre. In the evening, a one-act play A Hopeful Grave by Stephen Andrews was presented in church followed by a period of reflection.

Parish eucharist for Easter Day at St Mary's Church was celebrated by Dean Henry Stapleton, who was assisted by the Rev David Barnes. Richard Hay read the lesson and Clive Waind led intercessions. The organist was Jean Cheeseman. Following the service, children were presented with chocolates kindly provided by an anonymous donor.

The last Lent lunch was served by the ladies of St Mary's Church and Trinity Church in the parish room. The lunches have raised more than £600 for the charity Honley Aid in Sickness.

MELTHAM

Meltham WI held their meeting on Tuesday last week. This was chaired by the president Ann Dick. The tea ladies for the evening were Muriel Moorhouse and Josie Beevers. The speaker for the evening was Mrs Sue Morris who talked about Waterways and knot tying with rope and string. This was very interesting and informative. She said that knot tying went back to prehistoric times and that it took 43 miles of rope to rig a ship in Victorian times. She brought samples of knot tying and showed members how to do it. Everyone had a go – it was a most interesting evening. The vote of thanks was made Ruth Hutson. The raffle, organised by Ruth Hutson, was won by Catherine Moulson and Pauline Ellis.

NETHERTHONG

All Saints' Church took part in the Holmfirth churches trail during Holy Week. They depicted a Station of the Cross called Scarlet Robe and Crown of Thorns.

On Easter Sunday, a breakfast was served in the gallery room before the service at All Saints' Church. The Rev Di Ellerton led the Easter Day eucharist. The lessons were read by Nicky and Richard Green. Yvonne Hutson led intercessions and Geoffrey Byram was the organist.

UPPERTHONG

On Maundy Thursday, a eucharist service at St John's Church was led by the Rev Geoff Banks, who read the gospel and preached the sermon. The readers were Hilary Broadbent and Judy Gibbons. Sue Dawson led prayers and Val Shuttleworth administered the chalice. Philip Broadbent was the pianist. At the end of the service, members of the congregation were anointed with oil and given a blessing. Lunch followed in the meeting room.

On Maundy Thursday evening, a watch service was held organised by Capt Mike Smithers of the Church Army. Six readings were given with Taize chants at the end of each reading. On Good Friday morning, a children's workshop was held followed by a short service. In the afternoon, the Rev Di Ellerton led an hour of meditation.

On Easter Day, family communion at St John's Church was conducted by the Rev Geoff Banks, who read the gospel. preached the sermon and was celebrant. The readers were David Steele and Karen Beattie. Sue Dawson offered prayers and assisted with the chalice. Ian Greenhalgh was the organist. Refreshments were served afterwards by Hilary Roberts.

WILSHAW

Wilshaw Village Institute held its April meeting in the village hall. Mrs Faulds presided and held a short business discussion, which included plans for the Spring lunch in May. She then welcomed Mrs M Batty, who spoke about the Mothers Union service at New Hall Prison. It was pleasing to learn about the humanizing and pleasant activities which took place at the prison and how it was not all doom and gloom. Mrs Fielding thanked her for her enlightening talk. During refreshments, members admired a display of commemorative plates and china.

WOOLDALE

Maundy Thursday meditation at the Methodist Church was led by the Rev Laura Hardy. Supper was served and the pianist was Nigel Morris. A processions of witness on Good Friday was followed by a service led by Trevor Jones. Nigel Morris was the organist. A Lent lunch was served with donations to Christian Aid.

Easter Sunday worship at the Methodist Church was conducted by the Rev John Hardy when sacrament was taken. During the service, the Cross was decorated with posies of flowers. Nigel Morris was the organist.